Rebecca R. Bibbs: Why the pope’s Black ancestry matters

Why the Black pope matters—from New Orleans’ 7th Ward to South Los Angeles and beyond

Reports that the new leader of the Catholic Church has mixed African ancestry offer a fascinating antidote to President Trump’s attacks on diversity in America. By Erin Aubry Kaplan for Capital & ...

Rebecca R. Bibbs: Why the pope’s Black ancestry matters

Since news of the new pope, Robert Prevost, who assumed the name Leo XIV, hit the wires, he has been universally celebrated as being an American from Chicago. But he’s also another important first, something that wasn’t divulged at the same time or with the same fanfare: the first known pontiff of demonstrable African descent. This is important history, both for Black and mixed-race people. It may not be big news elsewhere, but as a nation where…